WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

[DANIEL GRUNWALD]

i HAVE ALWAYS STORED MY CARS IN A HEATED GARAGE FOR THE WINTER BUT NOW THE COLLECTION IS GROWING AND I HAVE FOUND A CLEAN BARN TO RENT. I AM CONCERNED ABOUT MICE GETTING INTOMY CARS. I HAVE HEARD THAT MOTHBALLS IN A BOWL IN THE INTERIOR AND UNDER THE CAR WILL PREVENT THIS BUT DOESN'T THIS LEAVE AN ODOR IN THE CAR? ANY SUGGESTIONS FROM EXPERIENCED BARN STORAGE PEOPLE WOULD BE APPRECIATED.

[Ray Dattilo]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

I purchased a car that was stored over winter two years ago and it still smells like moth balls...don't put them inside the car unless you know a way to get rid of the smell that I have yet to find.
Ray

[Brian M.]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

Stop screaming and get a CAT.

[Duke W.]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

Traps and poison are the way to go. Place traps and poison under the car and in the engine compartment, and you can also place them around the barn.

As a last line of defense, also place traps/poison in the interior on the floormats. Be sure the vents and heater air inlet are closed.

Duke

P.S. Please type in lower case.

[Mike E.]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

Forget the moth balls unless you have a bunch of old wives who need to tell tales. They don't work! I bought a 30,000 mile 71 LT-1 convertible this summer that hadn't been moved in 8 years--it absolutely reeked of mothballs, had mousenests under both seats, left a tiny corner of the original plastic owner's manual envelope, and ruined one section of carpet, not to mention the stains all over the top of the engine compartment. I store my other cars year round in a barn-- I have rodent poison, bought in bulk, always spread around. I generally buy the pellets in the small bags, 50 or so to a bucket. Had a coon get in one time, and he chewed through the plastic lid on the bucket so that he could poison himself to death. I've never had any rodent damage to the cars (the bucket had to be put out of its misery, though.) Don't rely on mothballs!!!
Mike Ernst

[Robert Holmes]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

I've had lots of experience with "barn" storage, mostly bad!! I had my '68 in a pole building with a dirt floor for several years. I tried every trick known, to keep the mice under control, but the end result was lots of damage to the car over the years.

I would either make sure the building is really mouse proof, or look for a better place. Consistent use of poison in and around the building helps, but the smell can be pretty nasty when a mouse dies in some obscure part of the car!

Bob Holmes

[Duke W.]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

The smell of a decaying mouse will eventually dissipate. A chewed through wiring harness won't fix itself!

Duke

[Mike E.]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

My understanding is that the pellet type of poison causes the rodent to seek water. Unless you have driven a solid axle through rain and still have the normal puddles on the carpet, the rodent will not stick around in the car--it will head for water.

[Tom Merkel]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

Dan - From experience, a word about moth balls: don't.

Tom

[Dan White]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

All moth balls did to my 66 was make it smell bad. Mice still chewed the insulation off the wires going to my power antenna switch.

[DANIEL GRUNWALD]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

Thanks for the advice. I am now thinking about the poison pellets and a dish of anti freeze for them to drink out of in the corner of the barn.It sounds mean but Saddam has done worse,right.
Daniel

[Wayne K.]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

Daniel,

I wouldn't put anti freeze out as small amounts call kill a dog or cat.

[Mark Ring]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

I have heard they do not like Irish Spring soap shavings on a dish but have no experience to back it up.

-Mark.

[Mike Arteaga]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

I had mice build a nest in my heater box that nearly set the car on fire when I unknowingly turned on the heater!! (The resister for the multi speed fan is in the duct and gets red hot) What a job disassembling the box and cleaning out the nest! In one winter they had literally packed the entire box with leaves. I now have a lift and keep it up on that, with peanut butter baited traps all around the area and regularly dispose of mouse carcasses!! Good luck!! Mike Arteaga

[kenneth bingener NCRS#38563]

Re: WINTER STORAGE/RODENTS

Try odorzout to get rid of unwanted odors. Never tried it on mothball smells but was the only thing that worked on a urine smell. Check out their website. Type in ODORZOUT and you should get to the site.